Opening Line: 41.5 Wins

Kalbrosky: Under

They only won 41 games last season and traded away John Collins for nothing.

Sykes: Over

I’m one of the few folks who still has real estate on Trae Young Island. Quin Snyder will fix everything. It’ll be fine.

Grimes: Over

I still like a lot of the talent on this roster, and the East is weaker this year.

Curtis: Over

I think they’ve got to be at least a win or two better than last year, no?

Huff: Over

I don’t think Atlanta will be as up-and-down as it was a season when they scratched and clawed to 41 wins. A couple more wins should be attainable.

Opening Line: 54.5 Wins

Kalbrosky: Over

I love the versatility and spacing they can bring with their five-man lineups. This is a real top-tier contender.

Sykes: Over

But just slightly. The talent is there, but I’m not confident enough in Kristaps Porzingis to call this a 60-win team.

Grimes: Over

I don’t think they get to the 57 games they won last year, but I could see them right at 55.

Curtis: Over

They’re one of the NBA’s most stacked contenders, no reason to think otherwise.

Huff: Over

Great team that got even better.

Opening Line: 37.5 Wins

Kalbrosky: Over

I’m expecting leaps from Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson. I also believe in Ben Simmons.

Sykes: Over

Mikal Bridges is going to pair amazingly with a rejuvenated Ben Simmons.

Grimes: Over

This roster is flooded with talent, it’s just about putting it all together.

Curtis: Over

Better than you think!

Huff: Over

I still haven’t given up on Ben Simmons, who I think will be good enough alongside Mikal Bridges to be a 40-plus win team.

Opening Line: 30.5 Wins

Kalbrosky: Under

The vibes are all off and it’s hard to trust the direction of this franchise. LaMelo Ball may play well but it may not translate to winning.

Sykes: Under

This might be the worst team in the NBA next season. I could see LaMelo Ball on the move soon.

Grimes: Under

What exactly has Charlotte done for me to think they’ll be better than last season?

Curtis: Under

Look out. Even with LaMelo Ball back, I think they’re a sub-30 win team.

Huff: Over

I know last season was a disaster but they spent a couple seasons in the Play-In tournament with similar players.

Opening Line: 37.5 Wins

Kalbrosky: Under

This team is a primed candidate to tear it down around the trade deadline. They desperately miss Lonzo Ball.

Sykes: Under

The Bulls feel directionless and I think Chicago will be in firesale territory come February.

Grimes: Over

The Bulls aren’t good, but they also aren’t terrible. Just stuck in that middle area no one wants to be.

Curtis: Under

A tricky number right there, so I’ll take the under by a hair.

Huff: Under

Their time came and went.

Opening Line: 50.5

Kalbrosky: Over

I’m expecting another leap from Evan Mobley on the offensive end of the floor.

Sykes: Over

The Cavaliers will be the 3-seed in the East. Mark my words.

Grimes: Over

The Cavs will join the Celtics and Bucks as the only 50-win teams in the East.

Curtis: Over

They’re a second-tier East team, so 51 wins shouldn’t be an issue.

Huff: Over

The East is a two-team race. But, what if it wasn’t? The Cavs are a tier below and a consecutive 500-plus win season is feasible.

Opening Line: 44.5 Wins

Kalbrosky: Over

Dallas made a sneaky good move adding Grant Williams to replace Dorian Finney-Smith and it can’t get worse than it did last year.

Sykes: Over

This is pretty easy considering they’ll have a full season of a (hopefully!) fully engaged Kyrie Irving.

Grimes: Over

The Mavs eclipse this and make it back to the playoffs this year.

Curtis: Over

Six wins better than last year? Sure, if Luka Doncic explodes which I think he will!

Huff: Under

If this oddly constructed team gets to 45 wins it’ll be because Luka Doncic had an MVP season (which is possible). I’m not will to bet on it, though.

Opening Line: 27.5 Wins

Kalbrosky: Over

This is one of the most exciting young teams in the league and could exceed expectations with coach Monty Williams.

Sykes: Over

Buy up all of the Cade Cunningham stock. Monty Williams is going to have these guys balling in Motor City.

Grimes: Under

Monty will finally give this team direction, but I’m not giving them an 11-game improvement in Year One.

Curtis: Over. A healthy Cade Cunningham means the rebuild takes a good step forward.

Huff: Under

Still a year away.

Opening Line: 52.5 Wins

Kalbrosky: Over

Nikola Jokic is a machine and Jamal Murray is primed to have his best regular-season to date.

Sykes: Over

The post-championship glow is going to look good on the Nuggets. Jamal Murray will be an All-Star.

Grimes: Over

They’ll match last year’s 53 wins.

Curtis: Over

No reason to think the champs will take a step back.

Huff: Over

Denver has the best player, and best home-court advantage in basketball. Lock that Over in.

Opening Line: 48.5 Wins

Kalbrosky: Under

As this veteran team gets older, there are just too many things that could maybe go wrong.

Sykes: Over

If this was a week ago, I’d have thought differently. But I just love the combination of Chris Paul and Steph Curry on the court together. Health is a huge question though.

Grimes: Under

Too many good teams in the West, and I don’t trust that Golden State will have its best players available every game.

Curtis: Over

The West will be tough, and this isn’t a lock. But I think Steph and Co. get there.

Huff: Under

This could easily go the other way, but I’m just not sure how much better this team is than it was last year.

Opening Line: 31.5 Wins

Kalbrosky: Over

This is a scrappy group that made a lot of savvy moves during the offseason. They’re going to try to win and as their young core develops, they will.

Sykes: Over

The Rockets won’t be good, but they’ll be trying to win games. And I think this team has a ton of talent. I just don’t think it meshes well.

Grimes: Under

I actually don’t hate the moves Houston made this offseason, I just think this conference is tough and they’ll need to do more.

Curtis: Over

There’s enough talent and coaching here to think they’ll get to the over.

Huff: Over

Good coach good vets and players on the rise.

Opening Line: 38.5 Wins

Kalbrosky: Over

The Pacers were actually pretty good last season until Tyrese Haliburton got hurt and have added real players like Bruce Brown and Obi Toppin.

Sykes: Over

So long as Tyrese Haliburton remains healthy we should see the Pacers as a top 6 team in the East. Watch out for Benn Mathurin this year.

Grimes: Over

Play-in tournament bound.

Curtis: Under

Another number I don’t know what to do with. I think they’ll end up right around it.

Huff: Over

One of the easier over/unders to take.

Opening Line: 45.5 Wins

Kalbrosky: Under

I just don’t trust that this group is able to stay healthy for a prolonged period and they don’t have the depth we once thought to replenish those minutes.

Sykes: Over

Shame on me for trusting the Clippers at all, but I think if there was ever a year for this team to put it together it’d be now.

Grimes: Over

I have no clue what to do with this line, because the Clippers are one of about four or five teams in the West I think finish between 45-47 wins. But sure, I’ll give them 46.

Curtis: Over

I’m going to assume that a James Harden trade happens with this one. Buy low!

Huff: Over

I can’t quit this team. They had a nightmare season in 2022-23 and still got 42 wins. Forty-six shouldn’t be too much harder to reach.

Opening Line: 47.5 Wins

Kalbrosky: Under

This is a legitimately good roster but I’m concerned about their ability to stay healthy for the entire season.

Sykes: Over

I think this team probably plays at a 48 to 50 win pace. The shot creation on this roster is elite. Like GSW, health will be a huge question.

Grimes: Under

The Lakers are another one of those teams I have in the 45-47 win range.

Curtis: Over

A Lakers team that looks like a 50-win team on paper even with so many veterans around.

Huff: Under

Not buying the post-trade-deadline run we saw from them.

Opening Line: 45.5 Wins

Kalbrosky: Under

They won games without Ja Morant when they had Tyus Jones. Now, I’m less convinced they can compete during his suspension.

Sykes: Under

Ja Morant is missing for the first 25 games of the season and the roster looks quite different than it did last year.

Grimes: Under

They’re going to miss Ja Morant AND Tyus Jones, and be clawing to make the playoffs late in the season.

Curtis: Over

Even with Ja Morant missing a bunch of time due to suspension, the Grizzlies are still going to get there.

Huff: Under

Memphis won’t do enough in Ja’s 25-game absence to hit the projected win total.

Opening Line: 45.5 Wins

Kalbrosky: Under

Miami lost some valuable players like Gabe Vincent and Max Strus. Maybe they make noise in the playoffs but in the regular season, meh.

Sykes: Over

It’s the Heat. Every time I count Miami out, they find a way back in. I’m not going to keep doing that.

Grimes: Under

Should’ve done more to land Damian Lillard, or somebody.

Curtis: Under

Hmm. I wonder if the offseason losses lead to them just missing at 45 wins.

Huff: Under

They could certainly heat up (pun intended) once the postseason rolls around. But they’re usually not as inspired during the regular season.

Opening Line: 44.5 Wins

Kalbrosky: Under

As much as I expect a great season from Anthony Edwards, I’m not sold on the frontcourt pairing of Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert.

Sykes: Over

Anthony Edwards is going to take a huge leap this season. If he’s an All-NBA level player, the Wolves can avoid the play-in.

Grimes: Over

A full season of Karl-Anthony Towns should could for a few more wins than last year.

Curtis: Over

Anthony Edwards’ superstardom ascension lifts them.

Huff: Over

With good injury luck, this is a top-6 team that could fight for homecourt advantage.

Opening Line: 54.5 Wins

Kalbrosky: Over

This team won 58 games last year without Damian Lillard. I predict that this one-two punch works swimmingly and they get a ton of wins.

Sykes: Over

This team is going to win a lot of regular season games with a top two of Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Grimes: Over

This team could very well end up with the best record in the NBA.

Curtis: Over

Maybe this number should be higher after the Dame trade?

Huff: Over

Might be the best regular-season team in the league this year.

Opening Line: 44.5 Wins

Kalbrosky: Over

This is a bet on Zion Williamson staying on the court for more than half the season, and if he does, they shatter the over.

Sykes: Over

The Pelicans were in first place in the West for a couple of weeks before Zion Williamson got hurt. I’m trusting his health this year. Take the over.

Grimes: Over

It always comes back to Zion Williamson, but at some point luck has to break his way, right?

Curtis: Under

I have no faith in Zion until I see him play a lot more than he has.

Huff: Under

I want to be wrong about this.

Opening Line: 45.5 Wins

Kalbrosky: Over

I had more trouble predicting this one than I expected, but this seems doable.

Sykes: Under

I think the league adjusts well to Jalen Brunson after having a year to scout him as a starter and arguably the Knicks’ best player.

Grimes: Over

Just barely, but again, the East is weak and the Knicks have a ton of continuity.

Curtis: Over

Not by a lot, but this team can be a top-four East squad.

Huff: Over

Probably a similar record to what they had last year.

Opening Line: 44.5 Wins

Kalbrosky: Over

The oddsmakers set this line so high that they’re begging you to take the under. So I’m defying them and taking the over!

Sykes: Over

I believe in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as one of the best five or so players in the NBA right now. He’s a floor raiser. The talent on the team raises its ceiling. Take the over.

Grimes: Over

I dont think OKC wins 50 games, but they’ll be right on that fringe between the playoffs and play-in tournament again.

Curtis: Over

They’re going to be so fun to watch this year, too.

Huff: Under

Yes, OKC will be really good and and extremely fun, but there’s just so many good teams in the West. I’m thinking more like 40-42 wins.

Opening Line: 37.5 Wins

Kalbrosky: Over

This group is so fun with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. They were also competitive last year. I like the over.

Sykes: Under

I think people are far too high on this group that still has a lot of positional overlap despite having two elite talents in Paolo Bancher and Franz Wagner.

Grimes: Over

Underrated fun team to watch this season.

Curtis: Over

Things are looking up in Orlando, finally.

Huff: Over

I honestly don’t know if the Magic can get to 38 wins but I think they’ve got enough upside to.

Opening Line: 52.5 Wins

Kalbrosky: Under

They should be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs but there’s just too many changes at once for my liking.

Sykes: Under

The Suns have a lot of top end offensive talent, but I think this team is going to be putrid defensively.

Grimes: Over

Only because I think the rest of the West cannabilizes itself, leaving the Nuggets and Suns as the clear top two.

Curtis: Under

Even with their absurd starting lineup, I worry about depth enough that this feels a little high.

Huff: Over

I’m surprised the others in in here aren’t feeling Suns over 52.5. I guess I’ll go out on a limb.

Opening Line: 48.5 Wins

Kalbrosky: Over

Even if they trade James Harden, we can likely expect a massive leap from Tyrese Maxey. That’s fun!

Sykes: Under

Even with Joel Embiid’s talent buoying everything, this team is way too dysfunctional for me to trust it right now.

Grimes: Under: This is tough, because while I don’t think they reach 50 wins, it’ll be close.

Curtis: Over

MVPiid carries them to 50 wins.

Huff: Over

Counting on Nick Nurse being rejuvinated and Tyreese Maxey taking a leap. Everything else should look similar to it did last year, which is a good recipe for 50-plus wins.

Opening Line: 28.5 Wins

Kalbrosky: Under

They could rattle off some wins but I think they’d rather add another high draft pick to this group and become sellers at the deadline.

Sykes: Over

But just barely. I don’t think this roster remains what it is right now by February, but there is some real talent there. I could see this team surprising a lot of people.

Grimes: Under

It’ll be fun to watch the development of Portland, but I’m not even sure how many of these players will still be on the roster come February.

Curtis: Under

Let the rebuild begin.

Huff: Under

What Charles said.

Opening Line: 44.5 Wins

Kalbrosky: Over

Mike Brown is a truly phenomenal regular-season coach who might run the best offense in the NBA.

Sykes: Over

LIGHT THE BEAM.

Grimes: Over

Oddsmakers clearly think last season was fluke. I don’t.

Curtis: Over

Feels low for a team that could be pretty good.

Huff: Over

Seems like the NBA world is sleeping on them and I’m not quite sure why.

Opening Line: 28.5 Wins

Kalbrosky: Under

This team is watchable because of Wembanyama but they’re simply not there yet. This year is about working out the kinks, not winning games.

Sykes: Over

Victor Wembanyama is going to be a problem for a lot of teams every single night. There’s not a ton of talent surrounding him, but I think he’ll be enough.

Grimes: Under

But I’ll be tuning in for as many of those losses as I can.

Curtis: Under

Even with Wemby, this team is a long way away from winning 30 games.

Huff: Over

Pop’s getting back in his bag this season.

Opening Line: 36.5 Wins 

Kalbrosky: Under

As much as I like Scottie Barnes, he’s not the answer at point guard. I think they eventually tear it all down and start over before the season ends.

Sykes: Under

This is one of the most confusing situations in the NBA. Scottie Barnes has yet to prove himself as a franchise-carrying talent, but the Raptors have essentially given him the keys. We’ll see how it goes.

Grimes: Under

This is the year it all falls down in Toronto.

Curtis: Over

Yes, there are question marks about whether they’ll make another trade, but I think they’re good enough to get over this number.

Huff: Under

Vibes don’t seem great. Feels like this team could lose some talent by the time the deadline rolls around.

Opening Line: 35.5 Wins

Kalbrosky: Over

They were pretty good last season and are only getting better. They’re a competitive bunch actively trying to win games.

Sykes: Over

I think Lauri Markkanen’s boost last year was very real. The addition of John Collins is a weird one, but I’m really excited to see that frontcourt go to work.

Grimes: Under

But not by much. 35 wins feels right for a team that seems content with being mediocre for now.

Curtis: Under

I just don’t know. So I’ll take the under.

Huff: Over

If you watched this team last season, you know what they’re capable of.

Opening Line: 23.5 Wins

Kalbrosky: Under

I say this while also acknowledging that this is the best thing that could happen to them as an organization. They needed to rebuild.

Sykes: Over

23 wins just feels criminally low here. There are too many veteran players on this team who have contributed to winning situations for it to get THIS bad.

Grimes: Over

They’ll be one of the league’s worst teams but not as bad as people think. Unless they make a few more trades, there’s still some veteran talent on this roster.

Curtis: Over

Yeah, they’ll be terrible. But THAT terrible? No.

Huff: Over

Whew, that is LOW. Too low, considering there are some solid NBA players on that roster.